New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-20
DRINK AND BE MERRY."i
REVIVAL OF AN UNwHoLEsoME PRACTICE.
COSTLY GIFT TO Mr.. JoRDAS-PREsENIs TO
OFFICIALS FORBIDDEN BY Law.
inv Rcp APU tn rHy

COSTLY GIFT TO Mr.. JoRDAS-PREsENls 10
OFFICIALS FORBIDDEN BY Law.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THr rRIBUss.
WASHINGTON June I9.-The clerks and other employees
in the office Of the Treasurer OF the United States have
contributed money and bouGht " a magnificent silver
punch bowl and ladle Conrad " Jordan late Treas
urer OF the United states 1t is understood that the
money contributed and the given or the manu-
facturs OF the articles while Treasurer Jordan abb
sent in Europe before his retirement from Office The
70 be OF the nres pieces OF the kind ever
In Washington. on one side is m engraving OF
buuch OF grapes. On the other SIDE Il
fac-simile % the north front OF the Treasury
building in which the Treasurers office is situated.
An inscription the bowl shows that 1t was presented
by the employees Of the Treasures Office - Conrad "
jordan and gives the date Of presentation The adle
OF beaten silver and in the bowl Of the lade mbedded
$40 gold piece with eagle side mp, and on the re-
verse the bowl the lade be the other face
OF the coin Engraved the ladle the words Drink
aad be merry" The bow ald lalle ara incosed ia an
o.vogreeu plush casket and half feet square and
two feet high.
II und, rsood that the work OF collecting funds from
the Treasury employees 10 pay for the costly "tesulno
nial for ex-Secretary Manning Is : II In progress
In order 10 pay their subscriptions for THIS pur-
pose some Of the contributors will be compelled
deprive themselves OF comforts which they otherwise
would be able to enjoy Under this Administration 1t has
become the fashion to solicit contributions for the pur
chase OF presents 30 be given TO Official superor Inc
gift to Mr. jordan Is the fourth one which has been
brought to the attention of THE TRIBUNE correspondent
within th- last months from the Treasury De- Z
ment alone Contributions for SUCH purposes are never
voluntary on the part OF large sorty Of the con
butors 1t the inyaabc rule that TWO or three or
halfozcn subordinate officers and clerks who think that
they see something gain by such
a proceeding take tho initiative and by methods
which are easily successful cause the spontaneous
contributions now In sums ranging nom 70 cents
from charwouan 10 $2j from the head 81 division or
bureau Years ago the custom OF making presents to
official superiors attracted attention and criticism IL
was 50 generally regarded as abuse that tie matter
WAS taken up Congress, and February l. 1870 the
following law vas approved by Pres. dent Grant:
That no officer clerk The United states Government
employ time solicit contributions OF 0sl ohas
employees n the Govergnent service Oi E.li eu,
1920 ar resonfe TO Them a. The contribution those
nor donation "a gllt OF
present 10 anv official superior ANY Officer Ell violating
charged from tho Government employ.
The bill was introduced In the House OF Representa-
tve- by MT Morrill,, Of Maine on January 10. 1870, by
unanimous consent and by unanimous consent was I'm
mediatey considered motion to lay It on the table
WA rejected by vote Of to 81 only Republicans
and one Democrat voting in :ayor OF IT, The bill! passed
the House without division fortnight Later passed.
the senate without division For hfoen years tue law
was carefully observed Ia TWO or three Instances men
who had retired fro she public service ana VINO aIler
warI accented presents their late official subord
severely ana Justly criticised luey louhu 10
severer critics than the Democratic newspapers IN
seyer retiring othc!as prom ~ stopped move
nens nad been 81 u collect moaey TOT pres
ents to ~ made them. In this eraof r"form now
ever that the custom IA TO re restored ana that
the Of It's restoration te regard Is " NC P"d
either to the letter or the spirit OF the law